Nov 23 2011:
Getting involved is easy, just volunteer. This permits you positively impact someone else's life without sacrificing your own. I think you need to stay in balance (taking care of your needs and those of your family, taking care of your health, and allowing yourself some time to be happy and enjoy life) but give back whenever you have the opportunity. You can do this as a red cross volunteer, scout leader, coach, or similar civic or social helper. If this is your passion, perhaps you can find a way to still be in balance and yet immerse yourself in resolving the underlying issues of the problems. Some f these issues do not have easy fixes though. It is the long-term selfless work that will benefit society the most.

Nov 24 2011:
Well reading the other answers I realize you are prompted to jump in the quick recipes of joining a charity. Why not... the intention of showing off (to have a nice CV) dissolves in the avalanche of problems needing immediate actions

Nov 24 2011:
I would say you never know until you are done. If you have a plan, intention to make an impact it would not work necessarily better then without. Usually the permanent positive impact comes from the perception of the whole actor (being) not just an action as the subject can sense the actor's reality and see intentions behind the example. If you give someone a million the result is a big impact yet, as they write, not a positive one. Probably the best thing one can do is to thrive to develop oneself conscientiously so that you influence the others positively anywhere anyway. In the terms of material gain it will be a win win or you loose they win scenarios. I.e. serving.
The question on developing oneself (what should one attempt to do) is here the crucial and hard one as when you step in you may find yourself already buried in the layers of culture of ambition, us vs. them, showing off etc. I would say the first attempt should be to recognize one own bad facets when they show. Nice know how is in the 'Four agreements' book.

Nov 24 2011:
A week ago, I was talking to this kid I know and he started talking about some issues in his life that are/have been troubling him. Like every other human being, I have my adversities as well. However, instead of venting to him all my problems (which in actuality are petty compared to a lot of people's) I chose to do something that is so easy, yet rarely done...and that is listening. I didn't get in my two cents as far as the conversation goes but for him to talk to someone with open ears was probably worth so much more

Nov 24 2011:
1) I hired a college grad to work for me and then mentored him (relentlessly) and then prodded him to spread his wings and take a better job after he learned all that he could.
2) What should we attempt to do? Hmmm....Just...lead by example...do unto others as you would have them do unto you.

As a Hispanic male coming from a background rooted on poverty and raised on troubles, I feel that I offer my students a real-world perspective. As I like to say, my education has been from the School of Hard Knocks to the Ivy Covered Walls.

I got into teaching to make a difference and in some way contribute positively to society.

Nov 25 2011:
your response reminds me of a truly amazing and inspiring teacher i used to have. He did the same thing and as a result, gained the trust and respect of many students in my highschool. The best thing was, he never did anything for self glory, he truly just wanted to help. I got to hear many stories from various students about how he changed their lives by simply being there and listening. He taught us about life, and what is means to be a true hero.

Nov 23 2011:
I don't feel comfortable listing what I have done to try to serve, but I will say I chose long ago to make public service on several scales the focus of my life. This includes my career, the role I try to play in the communities of which I am a part, how I spend the time I have to give to causes, mentoring of my own children and others, and so forth.

I agree with Robert that volunteering is one option, career choice another, how you choose to interact those you meet during the day, charitable undertakings whether in giving money or other necessary items or raising contributions or attention to causes that matter, how you raise your children, how you inspire your friends to behave...

Nov 23 2011:
Hi Estrella
I am a mental health recovery coordinator and give trainings to hundreds of the mentally ill to help them get better, this is my work. Needless to say it spills over into my personal life and I need more balance but it's hard to just turn it off when people need your help. Choose something you are passionate about and start helping people, you don't have to look far to find those in need.

Nov 27 2011:
I did not actually , i was thinking about It , I think being able to teach sthg to kids like maths or computer , i have to look 4 communities whom able to guide me toward doing the right thing based on my skills!

Nov 25 2011:
yes i am in fact aware ^_^, i havent done as much as i wish to do. Someitmes impacting lives starts with your own families. i have a mom who is sick, so i spend much of my time caring for her and the rest of my family. I go to school and try to set an example for my siblings. i volunteer helping take care of children at church as well as volunteer teaching dance to young girls. i am also a mentor for an organization called Be a Leader Foundation(balf) which i used to be a part of as a student.However, i dont see those as the only ways of impacting lives. Sometimes the small things are what matter the most. Many times, listening, being there, or lending a helping hand is what will motivate others or change their lives forever.